Reciprocal action tool accessories

Abstract

Reciprocating tool accessories are presented including: a damping handle assembly; and a surface contact assembly coupled with the damping handle assembly along a distal end and the reciprocating tool along a proximal end. In some embodiments, the damping handle assembly includes: a grip portion, the grip portion defining a housing, where the grip portion includes, a reciprocal connector subassembly at least partially contained within the housing; and a contact roller portion releasably coupled with the grip portion, where the contact roller portion includes, at least one horizontal contact roller coupled with and aligned along the grip portion, and at least one vertical contact roller coupled with and extending from the grip portion along a grip portion end. In some embodiments, the grip portion further includes a contoured surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A reciprocating tool accessory comprising:
 a damping handle assembly wherein the damping handle assembly comprises:
 a grip portion, the grip portion defining a housing, wherein the grip portion comprises, 
 a reciprocal connector subassembly at least partially contained within the housing; and 
 a contact roller portion releasably coupled with the grip portion, wherein the contact roller portion comprises, 
 at least one horizontal contact roller coupled with and aligned along the grip portion, and 
 at least one vertical contact roller coupled with and extending from the grip portion along a grip portion end; and 
 
 a surface contact assembly coupled with the damping handle assembly along a distal end and a reciprocating tool along a proximal end. 
 
     
     
       2. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the grip portion further comprises a contoured surface. 
     
     
       3. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the reciprocal connector subassembly further comprises:
 an axle; 
 a spherical bearing slidingly coupled with the axle; 
 a pair of split races that capture the spherical bearing; 
 a front axle spring positioned along the axle forward of the spherical bearing; 
 a back axle spring positioned along the axle rearward of the spherical bearing; and 
 a quick release connector coupled with the axle along a front end of the axle. 
 
     
     
       4. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the contact roller portion further comprises a roller guard disposed inboard of the at least one horizontal contact roller. 
     
     
       5. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one horizontal contact roller and the at least one vertical contact roller have a width in a range of approximately 0.5 to 3.0 inches. 
     
     
       6. The accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the surface contact assembly comprises:
 a profiled contact block; and 
 a support shaft coupled lengthwise with the profiled contact block. 
 
     
     
       7. The accessory of  claim 6 , wherein the support shaft is selected from the group consisting of: a flexible support shaft, a rigid support shaft, and a semi-flexible support shaft. 
     
     
       8. The accessory of  claim 6 , wherein the support shaft further comprises:
 a first retaining washer disposed along the proximal end, the first retaining washer having a first profile substantially similar to the profiled contact block; and 
 a second retaining washer disposed along the distal end, the second retaining washer having a second profile substantially similar to the profiled contact block. 
 
     
     
       9. The accessory of  claim 6 , wherein the support shaft is manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of: a polymeric material and a metallic material. 
     
     
       10. The accessory of  claim 6 , wherein the profiled contact block includes a surface profile selected from the group consisting of: a rectangular surface profile, a multi-sided flat surface profile, a curved surface profile, a multi-curved surface profile, and a combination curved/flat surface profile. 
     
     
       11. The accessory of  claim 6 , wherein the profiled contact block is a material selected from the group consisting of: an abrasive foam material, a polymeric foam material, a closed cell foam material, a flexible polymeric material, a rubberized material, a metallic material and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       12. The accessory of  claim 6 , wherein the profiled contact block further comprises a layer selected from the group consisting of: an abrasive tape layer, a bonded abrasive layer, a hook layer, a loop layer, a double sided adhesive tape layer, a buffing layer, a burnishing layer, and a fabric layer. 
     
     
       13. The accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the profiled contact block has a length in a range of approximately 5 to 25 inches. 
     
     
       14. A reciprocating tool accessory comprising:
 a damping handle assembly; 
 a surface contact assembly coupled with the damping handle assembly along a distal end and a reciprocating tool along a proximal end; 
 a distal quick release adapter rotatably coupling the damping handle assembly with the surface contact assembly; and 
 a proximal quick release adapter rotatably coupling the reciprocating tool with the surface contact assembly. 
 
     
     
       15. A reciprocating tool system comprising:
 a reciprocating tool; and 
 a reciprocating tool accessory comprising, 
 
       a surface contact assembly coupled with the reciprocating tool along a proximal end, and 
       a damping handle assembly coupled with the surface contact assembly along a distal end, wherein the damping handle assembly comprises:
 a grip portion, the grip portion defining a housing, wherein the grip portion comprises, 
 a reciprocal connector subassembly at least partially contained within the housing; and 
 a contact roller portion releasably coupled with the grip portion, wherein the contact roller portion comprises, 
 at least one horizontal contact roller coupled with and aligned along the grip portion, and 
 at least one vertical contact roller coupled with and extending from the grip portion along a grip portion end. 
 
     
     
       16. A method of using a reciprocating tool system comprising:
 providing the reciprocating tool system, the reciprocating tool system comprising,
 a reciprocating tool, 
 a surface contact assembly coupled with the reciprocating tool along a proximal end, and 
 a damping handle assembly coupled with the surface contact assembly along a distal end wherein the damping handle assembly comprises:
 a grip portion, the grip portion defining a housing, wherein the grip portion comprises, 
 
 a reciprocal connector subassembly at least partially contained within the housing; and
 a contact roller portion releasably coupled with the grip portion, wherein the contact roller portion comprises, 
 
 at least one horizontal contact roller coupled with and aligned along the grip portion, and 
 at least one vertical contact roller coupled with and extending from the grip portion along a grip portion end; 
 
 holding the reciprocating tool; 
 holding the damping handle assembly; and 
 applying the surface contact assembly against a work piece. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 removing the damping handle assembly from the surface contact assembly; 
 applying the surface contact assembly against a work piece; and 
 applying the damping handle assembly against the surface contact assembly. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the applying the damping handle assembly comprises:
 holding the damping handle assembly in an orientation, wherein the orientation is selected from the group consisting of: a horizontal orientation, a tilted orientation, and a vertical orientation. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 moving the damping handles assembly lengthwise across the surface contact assembly.